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hummersteve

First try at overwintering cuttings inside

hummersteve
15 years ago

Before everyone starts hollering at me about this being a salvia forum and it is Im just a little bit proud of my effort at this with pics to show my progress. The cuttings are from cuphea shumannii which I found for the people at the hummer forum and this plant was popular and I wanted it again so I ran my experiment. In the first pic it shows the cuttings looking a bit weak and puny , but as time went on they became stronger and needed cutting again, judge for yourself. I decided to wick the cuttings in soil so I wouldnt worry about how much water to give them and it seems to be working. I dont know if the small cutting will root but its part of my experiment. Yes, I am giving them a wee bit of plant food, wonder if I should back off on that.

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Comments (7)

  • rich_dufresne
    15 years ago

    Once there are roots, it is safe to start feeding a plant starter formula. You may inhibit rooting if the cuttings are not yet rooted.

  • hybridsage
    15 years ago

    Hummersteve:
    I use a spray bottle to mist the cuttings.Everything
    that I use is organic so don't have to worry about burning.
    My mix uses a 6-12-6 fertilizer(which builds a healthy root system) and a liquid rooting hormone called superthrive.
    That is very effective on many Salvias too. I usually
    put my cuttings in a diluted solution while they are waiting
    to be stuck.Your Cuphea is going to need some pinching to
    help w/ branching.What type plant food are you using ?
    Art

  • wardda
    15 years ago

    Warmth is another issue. Because I do my cuttings in the basement in winter where it is relatively cool they get bottom heat and get covered at first by the oldest sheet of plastic rap still in use. The problem at this time of year is getting healthy shoots for cutting. For me it means bringing plants out of cold storage on the porch, feeding them and putting them under lights. It usually takes less than a month to bring those plants to cutting stage. I can't speak for shumannii since I haven't tried it, but based on your head start, through a succession of cuttings you could have enough for a yard full by May.
    Some Cuphea are amazingly easy to root. With bottom heat David Verity can root in a week. It is the kind of plant to give a grower the confidence to try harder types.

  • hummersteve
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Ward-- You are correct in everything you have said. Warmth not being a problem since mine are inside. I could easily have a yardfull since the cupheas are so easy to root. The shumannii seem to be even more hardy than david verity. As you have said this trial run will give me confidence toward any salvia cuttings I may try later on. I may have to give some of these away.

    Art-- I also use a spray bottle while they are in the cutting mix and I dont use anything but water during that period ,except I do use rooting hormone. But once they are stablized in soil I have been using Peters specialties 12-36-14 at 1/2tsp per gal. I may need to back off on that and you are right I will need to do some pinching to force more branching. I have used superthrive but really couldnt tell it did anything. I do use rooting hormone on the cuttings though.

  • hummersteve
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Art--- Have you ever heard of or used Byron's famous tea recipe? I use it on all my seeds and cuttings, so much so now that I dont really think much about I just do it. Supposedly it also helps keep away dampoff.

    Here is a link that might be useful: byrons famous tea recipe

  • hybridsage
    15 years ago

    Thanks for the link to the Tea Recipe. I will use it
    on my salvias too.
    Art

  • hummersteve
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Art-- I hope you knew I didnt mean to say I use the tea on cuttings , I meant to say -- I use it on all my seeds and seedlings.